Budget Gaming

LordDarik · Sep 16, 2005

Alright I'm planning on building a new computer, but I'm on a tight budget of $800. Please comment.

Thermaltake SViking Case
OCZ PowerStream PS
ASRock AGP/PCIe Motherboard
AMD 3000+ (Venice)
1GB Crucial Ballistix
160GB HD in SATA2

Oh, and is there a big difference between Windows XP Home and Pro?

darksparkz · Sep 17, 2005

Is the PSU a OCZ Powerstream 520W? If so, you don't need something that strong, you can save almost $30 by getting a Forton AX500-A and it'll still be great and stable for your system.

Between XP Home and Pro, there are only a few performance differences. Maybe 0.5-1 second in SOME loading times, barely noticeable in gaming. Also XP Pro has a few more administrative settings and programs that XP Home doesnt. But aren't they both nearly the same price now? If so it's better to get XP Pro.

By the way, what graphics card do you have?

threeme2189 · Sep 17, 2005

yeah what graphics card are you going to get?

ckj · Sep 17, 2005

I wouldn't get a thermaltake, it's a waste of money when you're on a budget and for the money there are better cases to buy.

Flip-Mode · Sep 17, 2005

I second the case and the PSU suggestion, as for windows XP Pro edition lets you run domains while the home doesn't. At least thats what my friends tells me and hes a system admin so I sopose he knows what hes talking about.
So what video card you using?

Bar81 · Sep 17, 2005

If you're on a budget the PSU and the RAM don't make any sense. First, a quality 350W PSU should be plenty and save you money. Also, the RAM should just be good PC3200 and you should use the memory dividers on your mobo.

LordDarik · Sep 18, 2005

Well the thing about the PSU is (which, yes it is a powerstream), I don't want to have to upgrade it later since this is going to be a computer I'll be constantly upgrading, so that's one less thing to worry about. And the case for the same reason, except, I also wanted it because it has the locks on it and I don't want my step-brother playing games and crap on my computer. Plus it got good reviews from newegg.

The reason I splurged so much on some of the other parts was because I already have a graphics card, an x800 Pro.

Windows XP Home is ~$90 and XP Pro is ~$140 so I was just wondering what the 50 dollar difference is. Right now I'm using Home and it's fine for me, looks like I'll be sticking with it.

Oh and about the memory, I might just get a gig of Value RAM and get some better stuff later. Anyway, what is the best Value RAM? Thanks for the comments.

1cem4n · Sep 19, 2005

corsair value select = best value ram out there IMO. you do realize you could just put a BIOS lock right? my parents locked my computer but then i just unscrewed the latches. thermaltake sucks as they are very flimsy and easy to break. i had a thermaltake tsunami. and if you're going to be using it later, just get a fortron because it's just as good and cheaper.

-1cem4n

LordDarik · Sep 19, 2005

Ok, but my brothers to stupid to think of that anyway. Do you have any specific case recommendations? Thanks for the comments.

jstutman · Sep 19, 2005

LordDarik said:
Ok, but my brothers to stupid to think of that anyway. Do you have any specific case recommendations? Thanks for the comments.

plain jane antec (bestbuy has one on sale) to save on shipping. didnt compare prices to newegg so ymmv

1cem4n · Sep 19, 2005

slk3000b? it's by antec and is pretty good although a p180 is what you want if you're going to try to get a good balance between sound and performance. the sonata has the worst air flow possible.

-1cem4n

jnev_89 · Sep 19, 2005

i have a raidmax 668wsp, it's a really nice case for the money. it comes with a fairly nice 420w psu, removable mobo tray, and 6 case fans. $80 plus shipping from newegg. good airflow as well.

1cem4n · Sep 19, 2005

raidmax psus are pretty much the worst out there. and with 6 fans, it's got to be loud and they don't push as much air as two 120mm. if you want a good case, go for lian-li's or look at the special on antec.com for the 05 sale, for around $150 you can get a P160 AND a nice 550w power supply.

-1cem4n

LordDarik · Sep 19, 2005

Alright took some advice and changed things around a little and I'm pretty happy with what I have now:
Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129152
CD Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827152047
Hard Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144415
Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813157081
PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817148008
RAM- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820227209
Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103537

And Windows XP Home, for a total of $706.94 with shipping. I lowered the budget to $700 for now, until I actually get more money.

ckj · Sep 19, 2005

Don't get the aspire PSU. Instead get a fortron 500w from www.ewiz.com and get value corsair ram to cut the price. Just run a divider if you're OCing.

LordDarik · Sep 19, 2005

Well I'd rather have this higher quality RAM since I'm going to be stuck with it until I get enouph money to upgrade, so I don't want to deal with Value RAM very long.

attack · Sep 19, 2005

value ram should be fine, there are many other plcaes yuo can put the money which will yield more performance. (cooling, better video card...etc) high ram speeds don't do much at all for A64's

For pro/home, just get home. AFIAK the only advantage is you can have dual CPU's with XP pro and not home. However I think there was some legal wording which allows a single dual core chip to be licensed to work with XP home, so you should be fine even if you want to get and X2 (but double check in the SMP forum for that)

LordDarik · Sep 19, 2005

Well my video card is fine for now and I already have two 120mm case fans and an 80mm too. I was going to get the Zalman HSF for my CPU but I doubt I actually need it on an AMD 3000+. I was also looking at the Patriot RAM (see link) which is almost identical to the OCZ I was planning on getting, but, it has a lower voltage requirement and it's $5 less, I still want to keep the OCZ though because it looks so much better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220045

1cem4n · Sep 19, 2005

i always get ocz cause i get them for cheap prices(yay!) from a friend's mom. patriot is good and if i were you, i'd give them a try.

-1cem4n

Redstone · Sep 20, 2005

I returned my two sticks of 3200 Corsair value select because it
failed memory tests horribly. Just bad sticks? Probably.

The Patriot and OCZ value memory is supposed to be decent ram.
But it doesnt look like your leaning toward Corsair anyway.

Budget Gaming

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